GENEVA – Iran´s place at the men´s World Cup in three months was put in doubt amid an escalating Middle East conflict sparked by the soccer tournament’s co-host the United States.
Iran is due to play its three group stage games in the US – two in Inglewood, California, then in Seattle – from June 15-26. Cities in Canada and Mexico also will host some of the 104 games.
The US and Israel have targeted Iran in coordinated attacks since Saturday that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens more senior officials.
It provoked an Iranian response that aimed missiles at US allies including 2022 World Cup host Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which FIFA has picked to stage the 2034 edition.
“What is certain is that after this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,” said Iran´s top soccer official Mehdi Taj, a vice president of the Asian Football Confederation, according to AP..
It is unclear if the state-backed Iranian soccer federation could refuse to send its team to the 48-nation tournament that starts June 11, or the US government could effectively block the team.
FIFA has declined comment since Saturday, when secretary general Mattias Grafstrom said it would “monitor developments around all issues around the world.”
